Samuel L Clements "Mark Twain" – (1835 – 1910) – Author / Humorist

Samuel L Clements, better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist.
Twain is most noted for his novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which has since been called the Great American Novel,
and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. He is still extensively quoted, to this day. During his lifetime, Twain became a friend to
presidents, artists, industrialists and European royalty.
Twain enjoyed immense public popularity. His keen wit and incisive satire earned him praise from both critics and peers.
American author William Faulkner called Twain "The father of American literature".

Twain began his career writing light, humorous verse but evolved into a grim, almost profane chronicler of the vanities, hypocrisies and
murderous acts of mankind. At mid-career, with Huckleberry Finn, he combined rich humor, sturdy narrative and social criticism. Twain was
a master at rendering colloquial speech and helped to create and popularize a distinctive American literature built on American themes and
language. Many of Twain's works have been suppressed at times for various reasons. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been repeatedly
restricted in American high schools.